tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19974588331546389722024-03-04T20:30:46.889-08:00The Beaded WomanThe Beaded Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07904748881524848571noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1997458833154638972.post-59796784819366806782015-04-25T18:59:00.000-07:002011-10-17T13:36:32.323-07:00Welcome to The Beaded WomanThanks for stopping by The Beaded Woman, it's so nice to have you here. Have a look through the catalogue pages. If you would like to order any of the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">jewelry</span> you see, simply fill in the order form on the orders page. If you have any questions, email me at <a href="mailto:beadedwoman@xtra.co.nz">beadedwoman@xtra.co.nz</a>. I am also on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">facebook</span> so become a fan on my page and see updates, products of the month and be in to win some gorgeous freebies! You can also have a read of what the beaded woman has been up to on the blog posts on the home page! Thanks, again for coming by to take a peek! ENJOY!The Beaded Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07904748881524848571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1997458833154638972.post-58055287420231081332011-11-15T09:54:00.000-08:002011-11-15T10:17:03.627-08:00Little Cupcake BroochesI've just finished reading "The Help" by Kathryn <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Stockett</span>. I'm making the man behind the Beaded Woman Read it too and I will be passing it along to friends. It was such a great read! As I neared the end of the book, the thoughts that ran through my head were, "What if Martin Luther King, Jr. never had a dream? Or what if Rosa Parks never sat down on that bus and refused to move? Or what if people never cared enough to march on Washington to declare that all men and women are equal? Or if the women who came before me hadn't pushed for the woman's right to vote?" I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for all the people who have gone before me to make this world a better place. I am not so naive to think that the world is perfect, and you could say there is a <strong><em>whole</em></strong> lot wrong with the world, but in some ways it IS better. And it is better because someone stood up and said, "HEY! Listen, this needs to change, what are we going to do about this."<br />I also read the author's words on her own experiences with the issues in "The Help" and I could sense her regret that she didn't do something earlier (even though she was very young when this all happened) and I kept returning to the thoughts of my cupcake brooches. The suffering of women and children is an area of passion for me. I know this is an area of passion because when I hear of a little one suffering at the hands of another human being, I <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">weep</span>. Reading this book gave me a renewed sense of needing to ease the suffering of other people. So I have been knitting like a mad woman to increase the amount of stock I have on my cupcake brooches!<br />The proceeds from these brooches go to help free or prevent women and children from being sold into slavery. If you think slavery is an outdated issue from the 1800's, think again. There are more slaves today than when William <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Wilberforce</span> worked to abolish slavery in the 1800's and they <strong><em>COST LESS! </em></strong>Think on that a moment, we can put a price on another persons life and it's an appallingly low number!<br />There are more facts and details on the Little Cupcake Brooches page of my blog. If you would like to join in me creating change for other people, then please purchase a brooch or you can visit Tear Fund and make a direct donation to the micro enterprise scheme that will help prevent families from selling their children into slavery.<br />And so I will continue to educate one cupcake at a time......The Beaded Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07904748881524848571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1997458833154638972.post-72206711291991401252011-10-17T12:44:00.000-07:002011-10-17T13:34:52.411-07:00It's All Happening!It's been awhile since my last blog. Okay over a year but whose counting? I have been quietly working away at The Beaded Woman, doing markets, redesigning the mother's bracelets, designing the little princess, just like mommy and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">upcycled</span> ranges. It has been a busy year and now that I am sitting here reflecting, The Beaded Woman is 18months old now! Wow, time flies when you're having fun!<br />I have also taught myself to crochet over the last few months and I must say I'm <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">addicted</span> to it! So as well as jewelry I've been selling finger puppets at the market as well. I'm also in the process of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">designing</span> a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">munchy</span>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">munchy</span> caterpillar that is oh so cute! <br />It is with these finger puppets and little princess necklaces that I decided to join a website called Little Kiwi's Nest. Little Kiwi's Nest is an online shop for handmade goods for children. The items on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">LKN</span> are so gorgeous and I'm so honored to be a part of such a creative group. I will also be selling the new mother's bracelets and just like mommy bracelets on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">LKN</span>. I hope to be up and running with my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">web shop</span> for <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">LKN</span> by the first of November. You can check it out at littlekiwisnest.co.nz<br />I went to the parent and child show a few weeks back and I did a fair bit of networking while at the show. I showed my bracelets off to a lovely lady named Kate who is launching <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kidzgrab</span> on the 22<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">nd</span> of October. We are working on a deal for you, so if you haven't already, sign up on kidzgrab.co.nz and watch for The Beaded Woman in November!<br />So yes, it is all happening at once and it is all very exciting!The Beaded Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07904748881524848571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1997458833154638972.post-87211529871343801172010-05-25T18:15:00.000-07:002010-05-25T18:21:58.600-07:00Why I Do What I Do...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0F1bvov4vvjYcrcEY2zZpGNzkoUQonFck6zOL2AQyvI-jcPMkgdxmX-9ToIPz-FFYcKbg-JrahXujm3HD6qxEM966pY2i4DS6iqeKlWZjJ2O6P_Fr0h2_97mp7T3EU4esD0WzJsZ8rEEH/s1600/IMG_1736.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475382200391527746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0F1bvov4vvjYcrcEY2zZpGNzkoUQonFck6zOL2AQyvI-jcPMkgdxmX-9ToIPz-FFYcKbg-JrahXujm3HD6qxEM966pY2i4DS6iqeKlWZjJ2O6P_Fr0h2_97mp7T3EU4esD0WzJsZ8rEEH/s400/IMG_1736.JPG" /></a><br /><div>This is my almost 3 year old. She loves to sit beside me and "bean" while I do my work.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5Y6FzwrhNQLU5C6kxDlG_H3Q4vJrXATl9KNHOKO6evxWlgHzRhotHiOiPzNupxhewRu5rUSaIyyFGmwurPMRZ-DLXnkpJHUX3GpxoRG1QsnZzaiDDWIyd-h5DtcO5FptGcU5dZ3YpvxI/s1600/IMG_1740.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475382193311547826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5Y6FzwrhNQLU5C6kxDlG_H3Q4vJrXATl9KNHOKO6evxWlgHzRhotHiOiPzNupxhewRu5rUSaIyyFGmwurPMRZ-DLXnkpJHUX3GpxoRG1QsnZzaiDDWIyd-h5DtcO5FptGcU5dZ3YpvxI/s400/IMG_1740.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>Like mother like daughter. </div></div>The Beaded Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07904748881524848571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1997458833154638972.post-61829677110574350622010-04-25T14:14:00.000-07:002010-04-25T17:56:00.152-07:00Hello Gorgeous!I've just spent the last two weeks in the States for my grandfather's funeral. It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate an incredible man and his great life. I am truly blessed to have called him my grandpa and that I was able to travel to be there. That is why I've been a bit quiet on the beaded woman front.<br /><br />But I'm back and ready to hit the ground running. This week, I've got a lot of things to accomplish before my <strong><em>first craft market- Botany Town Centre May 1-2. </em></strong>If you live in the Botany area, come see me. It's a great opportunity to get Mother's Day Shopping done.<br />I also have my <strong><em>professional photo's done by Coralee de Freitas</em></strong>! They look amazing so will post them today so you can have a look at my work. Check out the awesome photos Coralee takes at her <a href="http://coraleedefreitas.blogspot.com/">website</a>. They are amazing, thank you Coralee for an awesome job well done. She also took the photo for my logo, isn't it cool!<br /><br />Now that I have good quality photos, I'm going to start <strong><em>selling on TradeMe</em></strong>. I will be offically open for business. (I have made my first sale, by the way and the title of my first customer goes to Richelle! Thanks, Riche!:) )<br /><br />I've also started a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Beaded-Woman/110010922355963"><strong>Facebook page</strong> </a>and will be doing some competitions off that website, so look me up there too! They are no longer doing fans, so you'll just have to LIKE the beaded woman. :)The Beaded Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07904748881524848571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1997458833154638972.post-833605435417267552010-03-30T15:40:00.000-07:002010-04-25T13:36:01.213-07:00Photo Fun<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxYlj0VzzTi1kNGA4OSOg6JbQpN8kwjZcpMeTcExHPQSpTQOynihwB23N-E5p-jAEQjvg9KfHWfXzB7BrrkSyRU-HCJOvlALe0zSq9wG4lWQGuX3iC0KCR5TajnbE-5neX5IyDgICJVBmt/s1600/IMG_1803.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454711350974703570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxYlj0VzzTi1kNGA4OSOg6JbQpN8kwjZcpMeTcExHPQSpTQOynihwB23N-E5p-jAEQjvg9KfHWfXzB7BrrkSyRU-HCJOvlALe0zSq9wG4lWQGuX3iC0KCR5TajnbE-5neX5IyDgICJVBmt/s400/IMG_1803.JPG" /></a><br /><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUzZ9Uzt_sQUx0n2OYAeR_kUTd_h2FOxTnZNuOXwEKplRhGExTM-gNtqK6Er7ALSjl7UhrYK3gVSBKXFRB8nFkKp1dHCS0qf5KyQi1sdishXxJfc_tn-wBM9doE6V_p5QecdqKBVK4xuEX/s1600/IMG_1805.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454711080223918242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUzZ9Uzt_sQUx0n2OYAeR_kUTd_h2FOxTnZNuOXwEKplRhGExTM-gNtqK6Er7ALSjl7UhrYK3gVSBKXFRB8nFkKp1dHCS0qf5KyQi1sdishXxJfc_tn-wBM9doE6V_p5QecdqKBVK4xuEX/s400/IMG_1805.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div></div></div>The Beaded Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07904748881524848571noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1997458833154638972.post-11452025483157576232010-03-28T11:35:00.000-07:002010-03-28T11:43:16.548-07:00Busy, Busy, BusyI woke up this morning with my mind a buzz. This Saturday is my first craft market down at Botany. There is a lot to finish this week, bags, make some more samples finish the birthstone babies. I won't be doing much sitting still and I find this very exciting.<br /> Last night my husband successfully bid on a pop up gazebo that I need for the markets. Good job, Babe! Now have I told you I need a table or two to go under the gazebo. :)<br /> I am also aware that people would like to see my product on my blog page. The beads from the States arrived last week and the bracelets look so amazing! The only problem is they are more difficult to photograph than I thought. They look much more gorgeous in person! So it is my goal this week to get justifying pictures and get the photos up!<br /> Right I better stop messing around on the computer and write my do to list for the week.The Beaded Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07904748881524848571noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1997458833154638972.post-50239179990484142882010-03-11T21:38:00.000-08:002010-03-11T21:41:00.550-08:00My first shipment arrived today!So I went to my mailbox today and my first shipment was there! The most exciting part though was that it was on the company line it said.... THE BEADED WOMAN! Hee Hee! It made me smile.The Beaded Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07904748881524848571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1997458833154638972.post-5806662776530548662010-03-09T18:21:00.000-08:002010-03-09T18:38:39.101-08:00Taking the Plunge One Step at a Time!We were given a desk last week, so I've cleaned a corner of the living room out for my "office". It immediately attracted attention from the soon to be birthday boy. He was over there before I hardly had it in place with his animals happily "chatting" to one another as they danced across the top. "No, no, this is MOMMY'S space.", I was quick to tell him. "Oh, it's your space?", he replied. Funny how when you become a parent things quickly become the colloquial "we" and nothing is your own anymore...<br />Also in the last week, I've contacted three different website companies for quotes on a website (gonna have to wait on that a bit I think), started making enquiries about taking my wares to the craft markets/shows, joined Mums on Top <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mumpreneur</span> Program and have found some of the beads I need here in New Zealand so I don't have to import them myself! Oh yeah and I've contacted customs on how much it is going to cost me to import some of my beads. I've also sent out a request to friends for a portable <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">gazebo</span> that I will need for the craft markets (still need one of those if anyone has one that lives in the Auckland area). So this "job" is keeping me busy.<br />Today though, I plunged a bit deeper and made my bead order! My heart raced a bit faster as I hit the checkout button. This is a bit nerve racking really and the stress is showing up in spots all over my face! :)<br />So now we wait for the beads to arrive. I will put pictures up on the blog once I've made some samples. Wonder who will be my first customer? I wonder if anyone is even reading my blog!The Beaded Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07904748881524848571noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1997458833154638972.post-12876720940242059682010-03-02T17:07:00.000-08:002010-03-09T18:18:45.157-08:00To Jump or Not to Jump.....Years ago I attended a party (yes, it was a children's party and yes, I was an adult) where they were making bracelets. I was hooked! I went right out to Hobby Lobby and bought everything I needed to start making bracelets. I started out small, just using stretchy cord, but I slowly graduated to more elaborate things like crimp beads and tiger tail and toggle clasps! You see, I've always loved a little "sparkle" in my life and a whole world of having jewelry for EVERY outfit was opened up to me.<br /><br /><br />Over the last five years I've had three children who fill my life with "sparkle" and suck up all the extra time I used to use on making jewelry. My oldest boy is heading off to school in two weeks and I can't believe how quickly the time has gone. Yes, I still have two more at home and I will still have the laundry, but we are getting to the point where I need to start pulling some income in as well. It's not that I don't want to go back to work, but I REALLY don't want to go back to work!<br /><br /><br />I've been trying to brainstorm small business ideas that will keep me at home with my babies! I'd love to do something with craft because I'm a creative type and I like seeing what I've been able to do myself. And I'd like it to be something that I can do at night in front of the TV while the kids are in bed.<br /><br /><br />I've been talking to my husband and my friends and I've finally got off my bum and done some research on making mother's bracelets. I've done some digging on where to source quality beads and how much it's going to cost to start up this business. I've also done cost <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">analysis</span> on how much each bracelet will cost to make and how much I could sell them for. Today I took a big step and took a mock up bracelet to coffee group to see if people even found them attractive. I was quite pleased with how cool they all thought the bracelets were. Even this blog is a step towards putting myself "out there".<br /><br /><br />It's kind of scary taking this step, I'm letting people know that I have this dream of staying home with my children and making money. I have a dream of "having it all", staying home and working at something I love. And quite honestly, it might flop, I may never make a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">success</span> of The Bag Lady and The Beaded Woman.<br /><br /><br />So, I'm left with the question..... Do I put myself out there and see what happens? Or do I play it safe and go back to teaching?The Beaded Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07904748881524848571noreply@blogger.com4